What Does Isaiah 19:19 Mean in the King James?
In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The altar stands in the midst of the narrow place, and the pillar marks its edge: constriction itself is not beyond the reach of worship.
THE MEANING
The place that feels narrow already holds a sign of the LORD at its center and another at its border. The sacred reaches through the whole place, from its inner ground to its edge.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that the most constricted place is beyond the LORD’s presence dissolves here: the verse places an altar right in its midst.
THE ROOT
מִצְרַיִם
Mitsrayim
GROWS FROM
צ־ר־ר
ṣ-r-r
To bind, press, or constrict; the sound-family also carries narrowness and distress.
“Egypt” in this verse is Mitsrayim. Mitsrayim is heard through צַר (tsar, narrow), with its -ayim ending carrying the image of two narrows. The altar is set in the middle of that constriction, while the pillar stands at its border: the narrow place is marked from within to its edge.
ALSO GROWS
tsar: Narrow, tight, distressing
צַר
Its sound and sense let Egypt carry the image of constriction in this verse.
metsar: A strait, narrow place, or distress
מֵצַר
It carries the narrowness of the place into the experience of pressure.
מִזְבֵּחַ
mizbēaḥ
GROWS FROM
ז־ב־ח
z-b-ḥ
To slaughter, especially in sacrifice.
The altar carries the act of slaughter within its name; it is more than a marker or a general place of devotion. Here that sacrificial site is planted in Egypt’s midst, so the narrowed place itself holds an altar to the LORD.
ALSO GROWS
zāvaḥ: To slaughter or sacrifice
זָבַח
The verb reveals the act held within the altar’s name.
zevaḥ: A sacrifice or slaughtered offering
זֶבַח
The altar is the place where this offering is brought.
מַצֵּבָה
matṣēvāh
GROWS FROM
נ־צ־ב
n-ṣ-b
To stand or be stationed.
The pillar belongs to the language of standing in place. At Egypt’s border it makes the LORD’s claim visible at the edge, complementing the altar at the center.
ALSO GROWS
nāṣav: To stand or station oneself
נָצַב
It shows the action carried by the pillar’s root.
niṣṣāv: Standing, stationed
נִצָּב
It makes the pillar’s border role visible: it stands as a marker there.
THE PATTERN
The LORD’s worship extends beyond one land or sacred center, reaching among all peoples.
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.THE THREAD
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.The altar named in Egypt echoes the altar where offerings from all peoples are accepted. The connection opens the verse’s geography: a sign within one land belongs to a house of prayer for everyone.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us